Feed: Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Feed Link: https://www.engadget.com/
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Title: Apple's latest Find My update makes it easier to find lost items

Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 20:12:28 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-latest...

If you have an iPhone that can run iOS 18, you can now download and install
the public beta of iOS 18.2. One of the most useful new features is the
capability to share the location of a lost item connected to Apple's Find My
network with a third party. You can already share an item's location with
people in your contacts list, but Apple says this could help in instances
wherein you have to rely on the help of a stranger.

When you choose "Share Item Location" in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad or
Mac, you'll get the option to share a link that shows the location of your
missing item. The link's recipient will be able to open it on any device, and
they'll also be able to see your Apple account email and/or phone number so
that they can get in touch with you. You'll be able to see how many people
visited the link, which expires after you're reunited with your lost
belonging or after a week if you haven't found it by then.

Along with benevolent strangers, you'll be able to share the locations of
misplaced AirTags and Find My accessories with select airlines. Apple has
worked with several of them to integrate this feature into their systems.
Only a small number of airline staff can access each Share Item Location
link, and Apple says they'll first need to authenticate themselves with an
Apple Account or partner email address.

Apple

More than 15 airlines will start supporting this feature in the coming
months, including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines,
British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM
Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss
International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic and
Vueling. Apple says that more airlines will get involved over time to help
track down mishandled or delayed bags.

Air transport tech company SITA is also incorporating Share Item Location
into WorldTracer, its baggage-tracing system. According to Apple, this is
used by more than 500 airlines and ground handlers at more than 2,800
airports.

Of course, installing beta software does have its downsides. There's a higher
chance of running into bugs, and some apps or features might still not work
as Apple had intended. If you don't mind and want to test iOS 18.2, you'll
have to enable Beta Updates under Software Updates in your device's Settings
menu. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 18.2 proper in December.

Meanwhile, as luck would have it, there's an early Black Friday deal on
AirTags at the time of writing. You can scoop up a four-pack for a record low
of $70.

Update, November 5 2024, 9:10AM ET: This story has been updated to clarify
that these new features are in the developer beta of iOS 18.2. The public
beta for that software isn't available just yet.

Update, November 11, 2024, 3:12PM ET: This story has been updated to include
details of the airline integration and to note that a public beta of iOS 18.2
is now available.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-latest...
to-find-lost-items-133049512.html?src=rss

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